Challenger Anthony Keller and incumbent Brian Skroch are vying for an at-large, two-year term as mayor of Rice.
Responses to biographical information, like name, age and occupation, were limited to 50 characters each. Responses to the open-ended candidate questions were limited to 100 words each. Any responses beyond the maximum length were cut off at the limit with ellipses.
Keller did not submit a completed candidate questionnaire by the deadline given to both Rice mayoral candidates.
What relevant experience and skills qualify you as an ideal candidate for Rice mayor? I have been a lifelong resident of Rice. I have held a spot on city council for 16 years and have been mayor of Rice for four years. I have been on numerous boards and committees throughout my years on the council, which helps me stay informed and active in the community of Rice.
Why did you decide to run for mayor? The Rice community is important to me, as I have lived here my whole life, and I am raising my family here. I have always had a passion for my community, and I am proud of what is happening.
The mayor has one vote, just like every other council member. What role do you think the mayor should play concerning city government compared to other council members? The mayor needs to be able to run meetings, maintain a productive setting and be readily available to the community when issues or concerns arise. The mayor needs to be able to listen to all sides and be helpful in resolving issues. The mayor also needs to be present in the community to be with the people of the community, so they can see that the mayor truly cares about their community.
What do you consider the most pressing issue facing the city of Rice? If elected, how would you hope to address this issue? Being responsible in fixing ongoing road concerns and maintaining reliable infrastructure responsibly. It is the mayor and council’s job to be responsible in making sure that they are using city funds responsibly.
Growth appears imminent for the city of Rice. What steps do you believe the council should take to properly prepare for increased population? We have begun taking the steps for increased population and growth with a new well being drilled in the spring. We must continue to keep our infrastructure healthy and grow it with the city as well as maintaining our public safety, all at a reasonable cost to our residents.
Rice voters will select two people to fill four-year terms on the Rice City Council. The three candidates to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot for the role are incumbent council members Michelle L. Keller and Chris Scheel and challenger Jacqulyn “Jacki” Janski.
Responses to biographical information, like name, age and occupation, were limited to 50 characters each. Responses to the open-ended candidate questions were limited to 100 words each. Any responses beyond the maximum length were cut off at the limit with ellipses.
Describe any relevant qualifications and involvement within the Rice community that make you a great candidate for Rice City Council. Rice has been my home for 22 years. I work in the city of Rice, and my husband is active with the fire department. Living and working in Rice has allowed me to listen to others and hear what residents would like to see in their community.
Why did you decide to run (or re-run) for a seat on Rice City Council? I decided to run for a seat on the city council because I wanted to give back to my community and help shape the future of the city.
How do you believe residents should be involved in the council’s decision-making process? I believe that citizens should be involved in their city, that they should be aware of what projects their elected officials are involved in, and provide input as to what they would like to see from their elected officials and help shape the future of the city.
Are you generally encouraged by the current direction of Rice City Council? Why or why not? I am encouraged by the current direction of the city council because they have been active in bringing about changes throughout the city. They encourage and support citizens to be active and share their opinions on what they would like to see.
What is a specific short-term goal you have for the city of Rice? If elected, how would you pursue this objective in your term as a council member? My short-term goals for the city are to continue exploring more options for the city to provide outdoor recreation areas and trails that interconnect those areas.
Describe any relevant qualifications and involvement within the Rice community that make you a great candidate for Rice City Council. I have lived here for 20 years and have been on the city council for the last three years.
Why did you decide to run (or re-run) for a seat on Rice City Council? I would like to see more progress made for the community and more involvement from the residents to say, “We need this done.” I don’t want them to sit there and wish stuff got done. I want them to say more things to the mayor so more community action happens.
How do you believe residents should be involved in the council’s decision-making process? Residents make up the community and know what needs to be done. They have lived here for many years or most of their lives. They should be involved with what is going on in the community, like church activities and the programs that Rice offers to them.
Are you generally encouraged by the current direction of Rice City Council? Why or why not? Yes, I am, somewhat, but I would like to see more streets done on the business side of the city because this is the oldest side, not the others. This is the oldest side, and it needs to have more fixtures done for the community. We can also look to the city, county and the state for funds to see what they can provide.
What is a specific short-term goal you have for the city of Rice? If elected, how would you pursue this objective in your term as a council member? To see more people getting involved again. They need to not be in their homes, but be involved with their schools, the parks or whatever the city can provide to the community. I would encourage involvement with projects by asking residents if they would like to help and be involved.
Describe any relevant qualifications and involvement within the Rice community that make you a great candidate for Rice City Council. I am currently serving my 12th year on the Rice City Council. I have learned valuable skills, and I would like to continue working and utilizing those skills to make the city of Rice a better place in the next four years. They include putting together cost-conscious budgeting for city departments, negotiating working contacts and personal evaluations with all city workers, proper review and evaluation of water and sewer rates, working with all city staff on making decisions and making the city better, and continuing to listen to city resident needs and help get them answers back quickly.
Why did you decide to run (or re-run) for a seat on Rice City Council? I have some unfinished business and would like the opportunity to continue working on it. First, work on our street fund not only to secure funding for road repairs but also include several blocks or maybe miles of street repair. Second, continue proper budgeting, so we can keep the city growing but do it in a cost-conscious effort for all our city residents. Last, work together with our water and sewer department to make sure both systems are in great working order. Both of these systems were added to our city in the mid-80s and need some repairs.
How do you believe residents should be involved in the council’s decision-making process? I would love and encourage more involvement by the residents of our city in all aspects of the decision-making processes in our city. They can do that in coming to the meetings, listening and giving their opinions in open forums, calling and giving opinions on city matters to city council elected officials, and even applying to be on some of the commissions and boards when we have openings. Currently, the participation has been very low in all of these areas, and if we could improve on that, putting more heads together can help make better decisions.
Are you generally encouraged by the current direction of Rice City Council? Why or why not? Yes, we have made some great progress in the last couple of years. We accepted bids to get Well No. 4 drilled; budgeted to allow for the Rice Fire Department to approve and purchase a new tanker truck; helped Rice Police Department, with help from a local business donation, build a new police station. We have also worked through donations and budgeting to develop a park plan, have updated parks and even added city parks to the city, and we have done multiple other activities to help the city be a better place for all the city residents.
What is a specific short-term goal you have for the city of Rice? If elected, how would you pursue this objective in your term as a council member? My biggest goal to work on is both a short-term and long-term fix and also to develop a maintenance plan with our roads. We have a huge percentage of roads that are original from the mid-1980s when the water and sewer was put in. Many of them need replacement, and a huge percentage that were built after are over their life expectancy. Developing a plan to fix and maintain the roads is one of our biggest needs for the city of Rice moving forward.
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